of getting our bearings here, we have a poll today, a three-swing state, this is in new york times, cbs news an quinnipiac poll. florida, 48-47 for obama. ohio, 50-45 for obama. and finally virginia, 49-47 for obama. these three states very, very close. looking at the numbers, what do they tell you? >> reporter: they tell me, brooke, they're fascinating, in particular florida and virginia. these are the big three swing states. that's what we have been going through on the battleground bus tour. florida, virginia, ohio. mitt romney had real momentum coming out first debate. he had gotten a sizable or comfortable narrow, but narrow lead in florida, virginia, that seems to have dissipated where the two polls you mentioned have obama narrowly up and ohio has always been president obama's firewall. no republican has won the white house without winning ohio. that leaves something sizable good for chicago. there is so much noise around the polls now, the focus is on early voting and the ground game. it is no substitute for actual votes. and that's what folks of both campaigns right now. >> joh